Information processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus with improved operatability. With the information processing apparatus in which the user is capable of watching a television program and connecting to the Internet, the index panel  1  shows channel buttons  2  to be operated to select a desired program, a site button  71  to be operated to make an access to site A available on the Internet and a site button  72  to be operated to make an access to site B on the Internet. The present invention allows the user to watch a television program and can be applied to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, which can be connected to the Internet.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatusand, more particularly, relates to an information processing apparatuswith improved operatability.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, with development of technologies, there has beenproposed a variety of ways to display a television program and a webpage made available on the Internet on the screen of a single apparatusby switching the screen from the television program to the web page orvice versa.

There also exists an apparatus having not only functions to watch atelevision program and inspect a web page, but also other functions suchas a function to watch a video program, functions to send and receiveemails and an album function to display a static picture stored on apredetermined storage medium.

In addition, the apparatus having such a variety of functions is alsoprovided with a predetermined button to be operated in order to displayan index panel (or an operation panel) on a display unit so as to allowthe user to switch from one function to another with ease.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a typical display of the conventional indexpanel.

On the top row of the index panel 1, there are displayed channel buttons2 to be operated in order to switch the screen from a displayedtelevision program to another. From the left to the right on the secondrow, there are displayed a video button 3, an Internet button 4, a mailbutton 5 and an album button 6. The video button 3 is a button to beoperated in order to switch to a video input. The Internet button 4 is abutton to be operated in order to establish a connection with theInternet. The mail button 5 is a button to be operated in order to sendor receive an email. The album button 6 is a button to be operated inorder to display a static picture.

Thus, even while the user is watching a television program, the user isallowed to display the index panel 1 and, for example, operate theInternet button 4 to establish a connection with the Internet so that aweb page can be displayed.

With such an index panel 1, however, there is raised a problem of anincapability of directly displaying a desired web page.

That is to say, in order for the user to display a desired web page witha television program appearing on the screen, the user must carry outoperations to first display the index panel 1 and then operate theInternet button 4 before selecting the desired web site among thosecataloged in a bookmark or the like.

Thus, by separately providing the index panel 1 with a button allowing adirect access to a desired web site to be made in the same way as anaccess, which is made when the channel of a television program isswitched from one to another, further improvement of the operatabilitycan be expected.

In addition, in the present state where development of networktechnologies eliminates a fence between television programs and contents(or web pages) made available on the Internet, it is desirable toprovide a capability of displaying contents in the same way asdisplaying a selected television program.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention addressing the aboveproblems to improve the operatability of an apparatus capable ofdisplaying both television programs and web pages.

An information processing apparatus provided by the present invention ischaracterized in that the information processing apparatus includesdisplay processing means for displaying a first operation button to beoperated in order to display a predetermined television program conveyedby a television broadcast wave and a second operation button to beoperated in order to make an access to a specific content on a network,wherein the first and second operation buttons are displayed on the samescreen.

The apparatus may further provide acquisition means for acquiringoperation button information required for displaying the secondoperation button.

The acquisition means can be used for acquiring the operation buttoninformation from an information providing apparatus for providing theoperation button information by way of the network.

The acquisition means can also be used for acquiring the operationbutton information from a predetermined storage medium for recording theoperation button information.

The apparatus may further provide charging means for charging a fee forthe operation button information.

An information processing method provided by the present invention ischaracterized in that the information processing method includes adisplay processing step of displaying a first operation button to beoperated in order to display a predetermined television program conveyedby a television broadcast wave and a second operation button to beoperated in order to make an access to a specific content on a network,wherein the first and second operation buttons are displayed on the samescreen.

A first recording medium provided by the present invention as arecording medium for recording a program is characterized in that theprogram includes a display processing step of displaying a firstoperation button to be operated in order to display a predeterminedtelevision program conveyed by a television broadcast wave and a secondoperation button to be operated in order to make an access to a specificcontent on a network, wherein the first and second operation buttons aredisplayed on the same screen.

A first program provided by the present invention is characterized inthat the first program includes a display processing step of displayinga first operation button to be operated in order to display apredetermined television program conveyed by a television broadcast waveand a second operation button to be operated in order to make an accessto a specific content on a network. The first and second operationbuttons are displayed on the same screen.

An information providing apparatus provided by the present invention ischaracterized in that the information providing apparatus includes:storage means for storing operation button information required fordisplaying a second operation button to be operated in order to displaya specific content on a network on the same screen in an informationprocessing apparatus as a first operation-button to be operated in orderto select a predetermined television program conveyed by a televisionbroadcast wave; and providing means for providing the operation buttoninformation stored in the storage means to the information processingapparatus.

An information providing method provided by the present invention ischaracterized in that the information providing method includes: astorage step of storing operation button information required fordisplaying a second operation button to be operated in order to make anaccess to a specific content on a network on the same screen in aninformation processing apparatus as a first operation button to beoperated in order to select a predetermined television program conveyedby a television broadcast wave; and a providing step of providing theoperation button information stored in processing carried out at thestorage step to the information processing apparatus.

The method may further provide a charging step of charging a fee for theoperation button information provided at the providing step to theinformation processing apparatus.

The method may further provide a step of pre-installing the operationbutton information in the information processing apparatus.

The method may further provide a charging step of charging a fee forpre-installation of the operation button information in the informationprocessing apparatus to another information processing apparatus.

The method may further provide a formation step of forming guide timesof streaming contents to be displayed in the information processingapparatus in accordance with an operation carried out on the secondoperation button.

At the formation step, the guide times of streaming contents are formedin accordance with the user of the information processing apparatus.

A second recording medium provided by the present invention as arecording medium for recording a program is characterized in that theprogram includes: a storage control step of controlling an operation tostore operation button information required for displaying a secondoperation button to be operated in order to display a predeterminedcontent on the same screen in an information processing apparatus as afirst operation button to be operated in order to select a predeterminedtelevision program conveyed by a television broadcast wave; and aninformation providing control step of controlling an operation toprovide the operation button information stored in processing carriedout at the storage control step to the information processing apparatus.

A second program provided by the present invention is characterized inthat the second program includes: a storage control step of controllingan operation to store operation button information required fordisplaying a second operation button to be operated in order to displaya predetermined content on the same screen in an information processingapparatus as a first operation button to be operated in order to selecta predetermined television program conveyed by a television broadcastwave; and an information providing control step of controlling anoperation to provide the operation button information stored inprocessing carried out at the storage control step to the informationprocessing apparatus.

In accordance with the information processing apparatus, the informationprocessing method, the recording medium and the program, which areprovided by the present invention, a first operation button to beoperated in order to display a predetermined television program conveyedby a television broadcast wave as well as a second operation button tobe operated in order to make an access to a specific content on anetwork are displayed and, in addition, the first and second operationbuttons are displayed on the same screen.

In accordance with the information providing apparatus, the informationproviding method, the recording medium and the program, which areprovided by the present invention, operation button information isprovided to an information processing apparatus to be stored therein asinformation required for displaying a second operation button to beoperated in order to display a specific content on the same screen as afirst operation button to be operated in order to display apredetermined television program conveyed by a television broadcastwave.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a typical display of the conventional indexpanel;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a typical configuration of an informationproviding system to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a typical display of an index panel;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of a basestation shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of a displayapparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of aportal-site management apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart representing a process carried out by theportal-site management apparatus;

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart representing a process carried out by aninformation processing apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a typical display appearing on the displayapparatus;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another typical display appearing on thedisplay apparatus;

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart representing another process carried out bythe portal-site management apparatus;

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart representing another process carried out bythe information processing apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a further typical display appearing on thedisplay apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a still further typical display appearingon the display apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a typical configuration of anotherinformation providing system to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a maker apparatus shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart representing a further process carried out bythe portal-site management apparatus;

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart representing a process carried out by themaker apparatus;

FIG. 19 shows a flowchart representing another process carried out bythe maker apparatus; and

FIG. 20 shows a flowchart representing a further process carried out bythe information processing apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a typical configuration of an informationproviding system to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 4, a base station 21 has a communication antenna 96allowing radio communications with a display apparatus 31 to be carriedout.

In addition, the base station 21 also has a television-broadcastreception antenna 22, which makes the base station 21 capable ofreceiving a television broadcast wave of a selected channel specified byinformation received from the display apparatus 31. Then, the basestation 21 extracts a program signal from the received televisionbroadcast wave and converts the extracted program signal into a digitalsignal. Subsequently, the base station 21 compresses the digital signalin an MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group)-2 format before finallytransmitting the compressed signal to the display apparatus 31 by radiocommunication from the communication antenna 96.

In the display apparatus 31, the program data transmitted by the basestation 21 is decompressed and reproduced to display images of a programon an LCD 34 and output sounds to speakers 35-1 and 35-2. On the otherhand, carrying the display apparatus 31, the user is capable ofspecifying a channel or another item by operating a variety of operationbuttons provided on an operation unit 32 or using a touch pen 33. Thus,the user is capable of watching a television program while freely movingfrom a location to another.

In addition, the base station 21 is also connected to the Internet 51 bya network such as a public-line network. Accordingly, the base station21 is capable of acquiring data described in a language such as an HTML(Hyper Text Markup Language) by making an access to a portal-sitemanagement apparatus 61 also connected to the Internet 51. Such anaccess is made by specifying a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) entered bythe user to the display apparatus 31 to be transmitted by the displayapparatus 31 to the base station 21.

Much like a television program, the acquired data is transmitted to thedisplay apparatus 31 to be displayed on the LCD 34. As a result, whilefreely moving from a location to another, the user is capable ofutilizing the display apparatus 31 to use a variety of contents providedby content management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3 in the same way as watchinga television program.

In addition, by using the display apparatus 31, the user is also capableof sending as well as receiving emails and displaying a static image,which is stored in a memory card 37 mounted on a memory card slot 36 asa storage medium, on the LCD 34.

In the following description, both the base station 21 and the displayapparatus 31 are referred to simply as an information processingapparatus in case it is not necessary to distinguish the base station 21and the display apparatus 31 from each other.

By operating an index display button provided on the operation unit 32,the user is capable of carrying out operations such as an operation tochange a displayed television program to another and an operation todisplay an index panel on the LCD 34. The index panel is used forselecting a function among a variety of functions of the informationprocessing apparatus. The functions of the information processingapparatus include a television-program inspection function, a web-pageinspection function and an email function.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a typical display of an index panel 1appearing on the LCD 34. Elements identical with their respectivecounterparts shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numeralsas the counterparts. It is to be noted that, if the user operates anindex-panel display button while watching a television program, theindex panel 1 is displayed, being superposed on the video of theprogram.

On the top row of the index panel 1, there are displayed channel buttons2 to be operated in order to activate the television-program inspectionfunction for selecting a television program.

The channel buttons 2 are channel buttons 2-1 to 2-7, which are arrangedfrom the left to the right. The channel button 2-1 is a channel buttonto be operated in order to display a program broadcasted by a ‘CHKGeneral’ channel. The channel button 2-2 is a channel button to beoperated in order to display a program broadcasted by a ‘CHK Education’channel. The channel button 2-3 is a channel button to be operated inorder to display a program broadcasted by a ‘JSY Television’ channel.The channel button 2-4 is a channel button to be operated in order todisplay a program broadcasted by a ‘TSK Television’ channel. The channelbutton 2-5 is a channel button to be operated in order to display aprogram broadcasted by a ‘Fuku Television’ channel. The channel button2-6 is a channel button to be operated in order to display a programbroadcasted by a ‘Television Yuhi’ channel. The channel button 2-7 is achannel button to be operated in order to display a program broadcastedby a ‘Television Tozai’ channel.

By applying the touch pen 33 to a touch panel 116 shown in FIG. 5, theuser is capable of selecting desired channel among the channelsrepresented by the channel buttons 2. The touch panel 116 is a layerstacked on the LCD 34.

At the left end of the second row of the index panel 1, there isdisplayed a video button 3 to be operated in order to display a videosignal or the like supplied by a signal source connected to the basestation 21. Examples of the signal source, which is shown in none of thefigure, are a video recorder and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player.

At an adjacent location on the right side of the video button 3, thereis displayed an Internet button 4 to be operated in order to establish aconnection with the Internet 51 by dialing up a predetermined Internetprovider. When the Internet button 4 is operated, typically, an accessto the portal-site management apparatus 61 is made to display a portalsite (or a web page) managed by the portal-site management apparatus 61on the LCD 34.

Then, referring to various kinds of information displayed on the portalsite, for example, the user is allowed to enter typically a keyword of adesired content in order to utilize a content managed by the contentmanagement apparatus 62-1 to 62-3, that is, in order to display a webpage on the LCD 34.

At an adjacent location on the right side of the Internet button 4, amail button 5 is displayed. By operating the mail button 5 by using thetouch pen 33, the user is capable of sending and receiving emails to andfrom a variety of apparatus connected to the Internet 51.

At an adjacent location on the right side of the mail button 5, an albumbutton 6 is displayed. When the user mounts a memory card 37 used forstoring static pictures on the memory card slot 36 and then operates thealbum button 6, the user is capable of displaying the static picturesstored in the memory card 37 on the LCD 34.

At an adjacent location on the right side of the album button 6, thereis displayed a site button 71 to be operated in order to make an accessto site A so as to display a screen of site A. At an adjacent locationon the right side of the site button 71, there is displayed a sitebutton 72 to be operated in order to make an access to site B so as todisplay a screen of site B.

By operating the site button 71 or 72, the user is capable of directlydisplaying a picture of site A or B without operating the Internetbutton 4 to make an access to the portal-site management apparatus 61and carry out a predetermined search operation.

It is to be noted that information on the site button 71 or 72 can bedownloaded from, for example, the portal-site management apparatus 61 aswill be described later. The site button 71, the site button 72 and astreaming content button 201 to be described later by referring to FIG.13 are referred to hereafter simply as a site button if it is notnecessary to distinguish them from each other. Thus, a site button canbe interpreted as a button to be operated in order to make a directaccess to a web site.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, on the lower right portion of the indexpanel 1, there is displayed a setting button 7 to be operated in orderto carry out various kinds of setting.

By operating such an index panel 1, the user is capable of selecting atelevision program or a web site to be accessed.

Refer back to FIG. 2. The portal-site management apparatus 61 acquirescontents provided by the content management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3 andaddress information. The portal-site management apparatus 61 alsomanages portal sites for giving various kinds of information to the userof the information processing apparatus. In addition, the portal-sitemanagement apparatus 61 carries out processes to keep a plurality ofpieces of information on a site button, provide the information on asite button at a request made by the user and collect a fee for theprovided information on a site button.

The content management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3 create and manage contentssuch as a content of a web site and a streaming content, which aredescribed typically in a language such as the HTML. In addition, thecontent management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3 also create information on asite button. Such information on a site button allows the informationprocessing apparatus to make a direct access to a site managed by thecontent management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3. The content managementapparatus 62-1 to 62-3 catalog the information on a site button in theportal-site management apparatus 61.

Next, configurations of the base station 21, the display the apparatus31 and the portal-site management apparatus 61 are explained.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of the base,station 21 shown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with a command entered from an input unit 86 and a commandreceived from the display apparatus 31 through the communication antenna96, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81 loads a control program stored ina ROM (Read Only Memory) 83 into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 84 andexecutes the control program to control operations of other componentsconnected to a bus 82.

A flash memory 85 is a non-volatile memory used for storing variouskinds of data. The input unit 86 includes a mouse and a keyboard,outputting a signal representing an input entered by the user to the CPU81.

A communication unit 87 includes a modem and/or a terminal adaptor,transmitting and receiving various kinds of information to and from avariety of information processing apparatus connected to the Internet51. The communication unit 87 passes on an acquired HTML file and datasuch as information on a site button downloaded from the portal-sitemanagement apparatus 61 to a changeover switch 90.

A station select unit 88 extracts a predetermined program signal from atelevision broadcast wave received by the television-broadcasttransmission/reception antenna 22 on the basis of a command issued bythe CPU 81. The station select unit 88 then supplies the extractedprogram signal to a signal processing unit 89 for carrying out processeson the program signal. The processes include demodulation processing,amplification processing and analog-to-digital conversion processing.The signal processing unit 89 supplies a result of the processes to achangeover switch 90.

The changeover switch 90 selects either its terminal 90-1 or 90-2 forreceiving data to be supplied to a compression process unit 91. Assumefor example that the user makes a request for a reproduction of atelevision program by operating the display apparatus 31. In this case,the changeover switch 90 passes on the data of the television programreceived from the signal processing unit 89 to the compression processunit 91 in accordance with a command received from the CPU 81. If theuser makes a request for a display of a web page by operating thedisplay apparatus 31, on the other hand, the changeover switch 90 passeson an HTML file received from the bus 82 to the compression process unit91.

By adoption of a predetermined method, the compression process unit 91compresses the television program data or the HTML file received fromthe changeover switch 90 and supplies data obtained as a result of thecompression process to a transmission buffer 92. The communicationbuffer 92 then outputs the data received from the compression processunit 91 to a transmission process unit 93 with a timing determined bythe CPU 81.

The transmission process unit 93 carries out processes on the datareceived from the communication buffer 92 and outputs a signal obtainedas a result of the processes to a communication control unit 95. Theprocesses include modulation processing and digital-to-analog conversionprocessing. The communication control unit 95 transmits the signalreceived from the transmission process unit 93 to the display apparatus31 by way of the communication antenna 96 by adopting a radiocommunication method conforming to typically the IEEE (Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11b.

A reception process unit 94 carries out processes such as demodulationprocessing and digital-to-analog conversion processing on a signalreceived from the communication control unit 95, which has received thesignal from the display apparatus 31 through the communication antenna96. An example of the signal is the URL of a web server to be accessed.The reception process unit 94 then supplies a result of the processes tothe CPU 81 by way of the bus 82.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of the displayapparatus 31 shown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with a signal received from the operation unit 32 or thetouch panel 116, a CPU 111 loads a control program stored in a ROM 113into a RAM 114 and executes the program to control all operations of thedisplay apparatus 31.

A flash memory 115 is used for storing various kinds of information suchas the address of a web site. The address of a web site is an addresscataloged by the user in the bookmark or an address, which is accessedwhen the site button described above is operated.

The touch panel 116 is stacked on the LCD 34 as a layer. When the usertouches a position on the touch panel 116 by using a touch pen 33, thetouch panel 116 detects the touched position and supplies information onthe detected position to the CPU 111.

In accordance with a command received from the CPU 111, a memory carddrive 117 reads out and writes various kinds of data into and from amemory card 37 inserted into the memory card slot 36. For example, thememory card driver 117 reads out information on a site button from thememory card 37 and supplies the information to components such as theflash memory 115.

The operation unit 32 includes a variety of buttons to be operated bythe user to enter a variety of inputs. The operation unit 32 supplies anentered input to the CPU 111. The operation unit 32 includes an indexdisplay button to be operated in order to display the index panel 1 likethe one shown in FIG. 3.

A communication control unit 119 transmits a signal received from atransmission process unit 126 to the base station 21 by way of acommunication antenna 118. On the other hand, the communication controlunit 119 receives a signal from the base station 21 through thecommunication antenna 118 and supplies the signal to a reception processunit 120.

The reception process unit 120 carries out processes on an analog signalreceived from the communication control unit 119. The processes includeamplification processing, demodulation processing and analog-to-digitalconversion processing. The reception process unit 120 then suppliesdigital data obtained as a result of the analog-to-digital conversionprocessing to a reception buffer 121.

The reception buffer 121 then outputs the data received from thereception process unit 120 to a decompression process unit 122 with apredetermined timing.

If the data received from the reception buffer 121 is compressed data,the decompression process unit 122 decompresses the data and convertsthe decompressed digital data into analog picture and audio signal. Thepicture signal is output to a picture signal process unit 123 and theaudio signal is supplied to an audio signal process unit 124.

The picture signal process unit 123 displays the picture signal receivedfrom the decompression process unit 122 typically on the LCD 34. On theother hand, the audio signal process unit 124 outputs the audio signalreceived from the decompression process unit 122 to speakers 35-1 and35-2. With the configuration described above, a television programsignal received from the base station 21 by radio communication in astate of being compressed by adoption of typically the MPEG2 method isreproduced and displayed to the user.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of theportal-site management apparatus 61.

A CPU 141 loads a control program stored in a ROM 142 into a RAM 143 andexecutes the program to control all operations of the portal-sitemanagement apparatus 61. The RAM 143 is also used properly for storingdata required by the CPU 141 in the execution of various kinds ofprocessing.

The CPU 141, the ROM 142 and the RAM 143 are connected to each other bya bus 144, which is also connected to an input/output interface 145.

The input/output interface 145 is connected to an input unit 146, anoutput unit 147 and a communication unit 148. Operated by the person incharge of management of the portal-site management apparatus 61, theinput unit 146 includes components such as a keyboard and a mouse. Theoutput unit 147 includes components such as a display unit and speakers.The display unit is typically a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or an LCD fordisplaying various kinds of information to the person in charge ofmanagement. The communication unit 148 includes components such as amodem and a terminal adapter, which transmit and receive various kindsof information to and from the Internet 51.

The input/output interface 145 is also connected to a site-buttoninformation storage unit 149, a content management information storageunit 150 and a user management information storage unit 151.

The site-button information storage unit 149 is used for storing orcataloging information on a site button in a state of being downloadablein accordance with a request received from an information processingapparatus. The information on a site button is provided to thecommunication unit 148 by typically the content management apparatus62-1 to 62-3.

The content management information storage unit 150 is typically usedfor storing content information managed by the content managementapparatus 62-1 to 62-3. The content information includes the substanceof each content and an address indicating which location the content isstored at. The content management information storage unit 150 providesvarious kinds of information to a user making an access thereto.

The user management information storage unit 151 is used for storinginformation on users utilizing portal sites. Typically, the informationon a user is stored, being associated with an ID issued in advance forthe user. To be more specific, the information on a user includespersonal information, historical information of each web site accessedby the user and charging information. The personal information includesthe name and address of the user. The charging information includes thenumber of a credit card to which the fee for downloaded information on asite button is to be charged.

In addition, the input/output interface 145 is connected to a drive 152,on which a recording medium is to be mounted, if necessary. Therecording medium mounted on the drive 152 can be a magnetic disc 153, anoptical disc 154, a magneto-optical disc 155, a semiconductor memory 156(that is, the memory card 37) or the like. Data read out from therecording medium is supplied to an appropriate storage unit and othercomponents.

Next, operations carried out by the information providing system shownin FIG. 2 are explained.

First of all; a process carried out by the portal-site managementapparatus 61 to catalog information on a site button is described byreferring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 7.

At the step S1, the CPU 141 acquires information on a site button fromthe communication unit 148. One of the Content management apparatus 62-1to 62-3 has transmitted the information on a site button to thecommunication unit 148 by way of the Internet 51. Assume for examplethat the information on a site button has been received from the contentmanagement apparatus 62-1. This information on a site button can be usedlater to make an access to a web site managed by the content managementapparatus 62-1. This is because the information on a site buttonincludes the address of the web site.

Then, at the next step S2, the CPU 141 stores the acquired informationon a site button in the site-button information storage unit 149 andcatalogs the site button on a download page shown in FIG. 10 as a selectbutton to be described later. The download page is a page displayed tothe user of the information processing apparatus to allow the user todownload the information on a desired site button by operating theselect button.

That is to say, in the portal-site management apparatus 61, there hasbeen prepared a web page used for downloading information on a sitebutton. The web page is appropriately referred to hereafter as thedownload page cited above. By carrying out the process shown in FIG. 7repeatedly, a plurality of site buttons can be cataloged on the downloadpage and pieces on information on the site buttons can be stored in thesite-button information storage unit 149. Thus, the user is capable ofdownloading desired information on a site button by making an access tothe download page.

As described above, the content management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3provide information on a site button to the portal-site managementapparatus 61 by way of the Internet 51. It is to be noted, however, thatthe information on a site button can also be provided from apredetermined recording medium, which can be any one of the recordingmediums including those ranging from the magnetic disc 153 to thesemiconductor memory 156 shown in FIG. 6. If the information on a sitebutton is provided from an optical disc 154 such as a CD-ROM (CompactDisc-Read Only Memory) or a DVD, the drive 152 reads out the informationfrom the optical disc 154 and supplies the information to thesite-button information storage unit 149 to be stored therein inaccordance with control executed by the CPU 141.

By referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 8, the following descriptionexplains a process carried out by the information processing apparatusto acquire (or download) information on a site button.

At the step S11, in accordance with a command given by the user, the CPU81 employed in the base station 21 controls the communication unit 87 tomake an access to a portal site managed by the portal-site managementapparatus 61.

In an operation to inspect a portal site by making such an access, theuser typically operates the index display button of the operation unit32 provided on the display apparatus 31 in order to display the indexpanel 1 like the one shown in FIG. 3 on the LCD 34 and then operates theInternet button 4 by using the touch pen 33.

If the CPU 111 employed in the display apparatus 31 determines inaccordance with an input from the touch panel 116 that the Internetbutton 4 has been operated, the CPU 111 controls a transmitted-signalgeneration unit 125 to generate a control signal making a request for anaccess to the portal site and transmit the signal to the base station 21by way of the communication antenna 118 after being subjected to apredetermined process in the transmission process unit 126.

In the base station 21, the communication antenna 96 receives thecontrol signal and the reception process unit 94 carries out apredetermined process on the signal. The processed control signal isthen supplied to the CPU 81.

When an access to the portal site is made in the processing describedabove, the CPU 81 employed in the base station 21 acquires an HTML fileof a main screen from the portal-site management apparatus 61 at thenext step S12 and displays the screen on the LCD 34.

To put it concretely, the HTML file received by the communication unit87 is supplied to the terminal 90-2 of the changeover switch 90 by wayof the bus 82 to be passed on by the changeover switch 90 to thecompression process unit 91. The compression process unit 91 compressesthe HTML file supplied thereto into data of a predetermined format andsupplies the compressed data to the communication buffer 92. With apredetermined timing, the communication buffer 92 outputs the compresseddata to the transmission process unit 93, which then carries outprocesses on the data. The processes include modulation processing anddigital-to-analog conversion processing. The transmission process unit93 transmits a result of the processes to the display apparatus 31 byway of the communication antenna 96 under control executed by thecommunication control unit 95. It is to be noted that, if the HTML filedoes not need to be compressed, the compression processing can beeliminated. In this case, uncompressed data of the HTML file istransmitted to the display apparatus 31.

In the display apparatus 31, the reception process unit 120 receives theHTML file from the communication antenna 118 and carries out processeson the file. The processes include predetermined demodulation processingand analog-to-digital conversion processing. The reception process unit120 supplies data obtained as a result of the processes to the receptionbuffer 121, which outputs the data to the decompression process unit 122with a predetermined timing. If the data supplied to the decompressionprocess unit 122 is compressed data, the decompression process unit 122decompresses the data to produce a picture signal representing a mainscreen and supplies the signal to the picture signal process unit 123.The picture signal process unit 123 displays the main screen based onthe picture signal supplied thereto on the LCD 34.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a typical display of the main screen of theportal site.

On the upper left side of the typical display of the main screen shownin FIG. 9, a program display button 171, a my-menu button 172 and anenjoyment button 173 appear. The program display button 171 is a buttonto be operated in order to display an EPG (Electronic Program Guide).The my-menu button 172 is a button to be operated in order to display acustomized menu. The enjoyment button 173 is a button to be operated inorder to display information to be enjoyed today.

At an adjacent location on the right side of the enjoyment button 173,there is displayed a download page button 174 to be operated in order todisplay the download page for downloading information on a site button.

On a row beneath the row displaying the program display button 171 tothe download page button 174, there is displayed a content menu displayportion 175 for showing a menu of a variety of contents. The user isallowed to select a desired content from the menu.

At an adjacent location on the right side of the program display button171 to the download page button 174, there is displayed a banneradvertisement display portion 177 for showing a variety of banneradvertisements. Below the banner advertisement display portion 177,there is displayed a new-information display portion 178 for showing newinformation.

It is to be noted that a toolbar 176 is provided at the bottom of theLCD 34. The toolbar 176 allows the user to carry out a variety ofoperations by using the touch pen 33.

With the main screen like the one of FIG. 9 displayed, at the step S13,the CPU 81 employed in the base station 21 forms a judgment as towhether or not the user has entered a command to display the downloadpage used to download information on a site button. This judgment isformed repeatedly till such a command is entered by the user in a stateof waiting for the user to enter the command.

When the CPU 111 employed in the display apparatus 31 detects anoperation carried out on the download page button 174 on the basis of anoutput generated by the touch panel 116, as described above, a signalmaking a request for an access to the download page is generated andtransmitted to the base station 21.

Then, at the next step S14, the CPU 81 employed in the base station 21makes an access to a location for storing the download page and thendisplays the download page on the LCD 34.

Much like the reception of the main screen described above, thecommunication unit 87 employed in the base station 21 receives the HTMLfile of the download page, which appears on the LCD 34 after variouskinds of processing have been carried out in the base station 21 and thedisplay apparatus 31.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a typical display showing the downloadpage.

As shown in the figure, the display shows a typical message saying:“Select a site button for downloading”. Under the message, the selectbuttons for specifying a site button among a variety of site buttonscataloged in the processing shown in FIG. 7 are displayed.

At the left end of the first row of the array, site button A denoted byreference numeral 191A, site button B denoted by reference numeral 191Bare displayed. The select button 191A is a button to be operated inorder to download information on the site button 71 shown in FIG. 3. Theselect button 191B is a button to be operated in order to downloadinformation on the site button 72 shown in FIG. 3. Along the array,similar select buttons follow the select button 191B. At the end of thearray, site button L denoted by reference numeral 191L is displayed.Likewise, the last select button 191L is a button to be operated inorder to download information on a site button L. In the display shownin the figure, each of the select buttons is marked with a text. It isto be noted, however, that a select button may be displayed along with apicture for a site associated with the select button.

The user selects one of the site buttons appearing on the download pageshown in the figure. As described above, a site button is a button to beoperated in order to make an access to a desired site. The user mayadditionally catalog the selected site button in the index panel 1.

In the case of the index panel 1 shown in FIG. 3, the user has selectedthe select buttons 191A and 191B to catalog the site buttons 71 and 72in the index panel 1 as well as download information on the site buttons71 and 72 respectively. The site buttons 71 and 72 in the index panel 1are buttons to be operated in order to display the screen of sites A andB respectively.

Referring back to FIG. 8, at the step S15, on the basis of a signalreceived from the display apparatus 31, the CPU 81 employed in the basestation 21 forms a judgment as to whether or not the user has selected asite button, the information on which is to be downloaded (that is, ajudgment as to whether or not the user has operated one of the selectbuttons 191A to 191L appearing on the download page). This judgment isformed repeatedly till a site button is selected by the user in a stateof waiting. As the CPU 81 determines that a site button has beenselected, the flow of the process goes on to a step S16.

At the step S16, the CPU 81 requests the portal-site managementapparatus 61 to download information on the site button selected by theuser. Then, at the next step S17, the CPU 81 stores an address includedin the downloaded information on the site button in typically the flashmemory 115 employed in the display apparatus 31.

Subsequently, at the next step S18, the site button, the information onwhich was downloaded, is cataloged (displayed) on the index panel 1.

Assume for example that the user operates the select button 191C byusing the touch pen 33 in order to download information on a site buttonto be operated in order to display the screen of site C. In this case,at the step S16, the CPU 81 employed by the base station 21 requests theportal-site management apparatus 61 to download information on the sitebutton, which is associated with site C.

Then, at the next step S17, the CPU 81 transmits the information on thesite button associated with site C received by the communication unit 87as to the display apparatus 31 as described above. The CPU 111 employedin the display apparatus 31 receives the site-button information fromthe base station 21. The CPU 111 then stores the address information ofsite C included in the site-button information into the flash memory115.

Subsequently, at the next step S18, the CPU 111 displays the site buttonassociated with site C typically at an adjacent location on the rightside of the site button 72.

When the user operates the site button associated with site C, thedisplay apparatus 31 informs the base station 21 of the address of siteC. On the basis of the HTML file acquired by the base station 21, thescreen of site C is finally displayed on the LCD 34. A process carriedout by the information processing apparatus to make an access to a sitespecified by a site button will be described hereunder.

As described above, the address information of a site button is storedin the flash memory 115 employed in the display apparatus 31. It is tobe noted, however, that the address information can also be stored inthe base station 21 as well.

Then, at the next step S19, the CPU 81 carries out a charging process tocompute a fee (price) for the downloaded information on the site button.When the portal-site management apparatus 61 makes a request that theportal-site management apparatus 61 be informed of the number of acredit card, for example, the CPU 81 requests the display apparatus 31to display a screen for entering the number of a credit card on the LCD34. The portal-site management apparatus 61 is then informed of a creditcard number entered to the screen.

As an alternative, information such as the number of a credit card iscataloged in advance in the portal site management apparatus 61 and auser ID based on such information is issued to the user. In this case, acharging process based on a user ID is carried out. In this case, ascreen for inputting a user ID is displayed on the LCD 34 so as to allowthe user to enter his/her own user ID.

The process carried out as described above allows the user to customizethe index panel 1 as the user likes so that the user is capable ofdisplaying the screen of a desired web site in the same way as thecapability of selecting a television program. It is to be noted that theuser is also allowed to delete a site button that is no longernecessary.

By referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the following descriptionexplains a process carried out by the portal-site management apparatus61 to provide information on a site button.

At the step S31, when the information processing apparatus requests theportal-site management apparatus 61 to download information on a sitebutton (that is, when one of the select buttons 191A to 191L on thedownload page shown in FIG. 10 is operated), the CPU 141 reads out theinformation on the selected site button from the site-button informationstorage unit 149 and provides (transmits) the information to theinformation processing apparatus by way of the communication unit 148.

Then, at the next step S32, the CPU 141 carries out a charging processfor the provided information on the site button. For example, the CPU141 issues a request for a notice of a credit card number to theinformation processing apparatus and a predetermined amount of money iscollected by using the credit card number given by the informationprocessing apparatus at the request. Typically, the predetermined amountof the collected money is several hundred yen for every downloadedinformation on a site button.

As an alternative, information including the number of a credit card isstored in the user management information storage unit 151 for eachissued user ID. In this case, the CPU 141 issues a request for a noticeof a credit card number to the information processing apparatus and acharging process is carried out on the basis of the user ID given at therequest.

Then, at the next step S33, the CPU 141 updates information on the usermaking the request for the downloading of the information on the sitebutton. The information includes an access record and a record ofpurchasing information on a site button.

The institution managing portal sites can gain a profit by sellinginformation on a site button. In addition, the institution managingportal sites may also collect money from the provider of the informationon a site button as a fee for cataloging the information in theportal-site management apparatus 61. In this case, the provider of theinformation on a site button is an institution managing the contentmanagement apparatus 62-1 to 62-3.

By referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the following descriptionexplains an access process carried out by the information processingapparatus to make an access to a site indicated by an operated sitebutton.

At the step S41, the CPU 111 employed in the display apparatus 31 formsa judgment as to whether or not the index display button provided on theoperation unit 32 has been operated. This judgment is formed repeatedlytill the index display button is operated in a state of waiting. As theCPU 111 determines that the index display button has been operated, theflow of the process goes on to a step S42 at which the CPU 111 controlsthe picture signal process unit 123 to display the index panel 1 on theLCD 43.

If information on site buttons has already been downloaded in theprocesses described above, the index panel 1 like the one shown in FIG.3 is displayed on the LCD 34.

Then, at the next step S43, on the basis of an output from the touchpanel 116, the CPU 111 forms a judgment as to whether or not a sitebutton appearing on the index panel 1 has been operated. If the CPU 111determines that a site button has been operated, the flow of the processgoes on to a step S44.

At the step S44, the CPU 111 reads out an address of a site associatedwith the operated site button from the flash memory 115 and generates asignal specifying the address as a command to make an access to theaddress. The CPU 111 then transmits the signal to the base station 21.

Then, at the next step S45, the CPU 81 employed in the base station 21makes an access to a predetermined site specified by the addressincluded in the signal received from the display apparatus 31.

For example, assume that the user operates the site button 71 appearingon the index panel 1 shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the address of siteA is read out and transmitted to the base station 21 after beingsubjected to a predetermined process. The CPU 81 employed in the basestation 21 then makes an access to site A based on the suppliedinformation, to acquire an HTML file and transmits the file to thedisplay apparatus 31.

Then, at the next step S46, the CPU 111 employed in the displayapparatus 31 carries out various kinds of processing described above onthe HTML file received from the base station 21 and displays a content(or a web page) provided from the site on the LCD 34.

The process described above allows the index panel 1 to be displayed anda desired site to be shown by merely operating the site button providedon the index panel 1 for the site even while the user is watching atelevision program. That is to say, the operatability is improved ifcompared with the conventional system in which the index panel 1 isfirst displayed, a connection with the Internet 51 is then establishedand a desired site is finally selected.

It is to be noted that another kind of site button can be provided. Thesite button of the kind just mentioned is operated not only to displaythe screen of a specified site, but also make an access to an apparatusfor managing streaming contents so that a streaming content is displayedon the LCD 34.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a further typical display of the indexpanel 1. At an adjacent location on the right side of the site button72, a streaming content button 201 is displayed. The streaming contentbutton 201 is a button to be operated in order to make an access to asite for managing streaming contents so as to display a streamingcontent.

When the user operates the streaming content button 201, a storedaddress associated with the streaming content button 201 is read out andan access to a site indicated by the address is made in the same way asthe processes, which are carried out when the site button is operated asdescribed above. Then, as the portal-site management apparatus 61transmits a streaming content by way of the Internet 51, the basestation 21 and the display apparatus 31 carry out a variety of processesdescribed above to display the stream content on the LCD 34.

In this way, the user is capable of selecting and watching a streamingcontent in the same sense as the operations to select and watch atelevision program conveyed by a television broadcast wave.

In addition, the portal-site management apparatus 61 may compile a guidesequence of streaming contents and their showing times on the basis ofinformation stored in the content management information storage unit150 to be included in a program schedule, which is then provided to theinformation processing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a typical program schedule, which appearson the LCD 34 when the program display button 171 shown in FIG. 9 isoperated.

In this schedule of programs, the vertical direction is the direction inwhich time lapses. The schedule of programs shows television programsbroadcasted by a ‘CHK General’ channel, a ‘CHK Education’ channel, a‘JSY Television’ channel, a ‘TSK Television’ channel, a ‘FukuTelevision’ channel, a ‘Television Yuhi’ channel and a ‘TelevisionTozai’ channel, which are arranged as columns in an order starting fromthe left side.

At the right-side end of the schedule of programs, there is displayed astreaming content guide column 211 created by the portal-site managementapparatus 61 by compiling the guide sequence of streaming contents andtheir guide times as described above.

In the figure, the time 13:00 is used as a start time. The streamingcontent guide column 211 includes content 1, content 2, content 3,content 4 and content 5, which are listed in a chronological order.Thus, when the user merely operates the streaming content button 201appearing on the index panel 1 as shown in FIG. 13 without the need tochange (or specify) an access target, the streaming contents aredisplayed on the LCD 34 in the order the contents are listed in thestreaming content guide column 211.

That is to say, when the user operates the streaming content button 201,the portal-site management apparatus 61 provides the informationprocessing apparatus with addresses of the streaming contents set in thestreaming content guide column 211 and times to change the access targetfrom the address of a current streaming content to the address of thenext streaming content. The provided addresses of the streaming contentsare stored typically in the flash memory 115 employed in the displayapparatus 31 and used as a base for selecting an access target.

Thus, the user is capable of watching streaming contents in the same wayas television programs broadcasted by broadcasting stations inaccordance with a schedule shown in a schedule of programs.

In addition, a desired streaming content can be displayed on the LCD 34without regard to the show time thereof indicated in a displayedschedule of programs like the one shown in FIG. 14. In this case, eachdisplay of the streaming content shown on the streaming content guidecolumn 211 is linked to a server used for storing the content. The useris allowed to select a desired streaming content by using the touch pen33 in order to display the content. For example, the user is allowed toselect content 3 even during a time frame allocated to content 1.

Furthermore, the display (or the picture) of the streaming contentbutton 201 appearing on the index panel 1 can be modified in accordancewith the substance of a streaming content supposed to be shown at thepresent time frame. In a time frame allocated to a baseball content, forexample, a picture such as a ball or bat of the baseball is displayed onthe streaming content button 201. In a time frame allocated to contentabout soccer, on the other hand, a picture of a soccer ball is displayedon the streaming content button 201.

In this way, the user is capable of verifying the substance of astreaming content assigned to the present time frame without making anaccess to the portal-site management apparatus 61 in order to display aschedule of programs like the one shown in FIG. 14.

It is to be noted that the streaming contents set in the streamingcontent guide column 211 can be obtained as a result of compilation inthe portal-site management apparatus 61 on the basis of user informationsuch as favorites cataloged in advance by the user.

That is to say, the CPU 141 employed in the portal-site managementapparatus 61 analyzes favorites with the user on the basis ofinformation stored in the user management information storage unit 151in order to form streaming contents. In the case of a user fond ofsports, for example, guide times of streaming contents are set so as todisplay streaming contents of sports continuously. Then, information onthe set streaming content guide column 211 is stored, being associatedwith a user ID of the user for which the information is formed. When theinformation processing apparatus makes an access to the portal-sitemanagement apparatus 61 by specifying a user ID, the portal-sitemanagement apparatus 61 reads out the stored information and providesthe information to the user.

In addition of a fee for providing such information on a site button anda fee for providing such information on a streaming content button, afee for providing a program schedule formed on the basis of favoriteswith the user can also be charged.

In the explanation described above, data such as information on a sitebutton is presented to the information processing apparatus by way ofthe Internet 51. As also described above, however, such data can alsopresented to the information processing apparatus by using a storagemedium such as the memory card 37. As another alternative, data such asinformation on a site button is installed in advance in the informationprocessing apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another typical configuration of theinformation providing system to which the present invention is applied.Components identical with their respective counterparts shown in FIG. 2are denoted by the same reference numerals and their explanations arerepeated properly only if necessary.

A maker apparatus 221 is managed typically by a manufacturer producingthe memory card 37 and/or the information processing apparatus. Inaccordance with a command issued by the portal-site management apparatus61, the maker apparatus 221 creates a program to be stored in the memorycard 37 or the information processing apparatus. The program created bythe maker apparatus 221 and stored in the memory card 37 or theinformation processing apparatus includes site button informationprovided by the portal-site management apparatus 61.

Thus, when a memory card 37 containing information on a site button issold to a user, money representing a fee for the information on a sitebutton can be charged to the user independently of the price of thememory card 37. If information on a site button is installed in theinformation processing apparatus in advance, a fee for the preinstalledinformation on a site button can be charged to the institution managingthe content management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3 that has made a requestfor the pre-installation of the information on a site button.

It is to be noted that the portal-site management apparatus 61 and themaker apparatus 221 do not have to be implemented as a plurality ofapparatus physically separated from each other as shown in FIG. 15.Instead, they can be implemented in a single apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a typical configuration of the makerapparatus 221.

A control unit 231 activates a control program stored in a memoryembedded therein to control all operations of the maker apparatus 221 inaccordance with an input entered by a person in charge of management ofthe maker apparatus 221 via an input unit 232.

For example, the control unit 231 acquires information on a site buttonfrom the portal-site management apparatus 61, which transmits theinformation to a communication unit 233 employed in the maker apparatus221 by way of the Internet 51. The communication unit 233 passes on theinformation on a site button to a preinstall-program creation unit 234or a memory-card-program creation unit 235.

The preinstall-program creation unit 234 creates a program to bepreinstalled in the information processing apparatus and pre-install thecreated program in the information processing apparatus. The programcreated by the preinstall-program creation unit 234 also includes theinformation on a site button in addition to applications such as thefunction to watch a television program, the mail function and the albumfunction, which have been described above. An information processingapparatus with such a program preinstalled therein is thus capable ofcarrying out the above-described processing to display a site button onthe index panel 1 without downloading information on the site button.

On the other hand, the memory-card-program creation unit 235 creates aprogram to be stored in the memory card 37 and stores the program in thememory card 37. The program created by the memory-card-program creationunit 235 is a program for installing information on a site button in theinformation processing apparatus. When the user mounts the memory card37 containing the program on the memory card slot 36, the site buttoncan be displayed on the index panel 1.

Operations carried out by the information providing system shown in FIG.15 are explained as follows.

First of all, by referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 17, thefollowing description explains a process carried out by the portal-sitemanagement apparatus 61 to collect a pre-installation fee.

At the step S61, the CPU 141 accepts a request made by any one of thecontent management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3 to preinstall information on asite button in the information processing apparatus. Then, at the nextstep S62, the CPU 141 reads out the site button information of the sitemanaged by the content management apparatus 62-1 to 62-3 from thesite-button information storage unit 149 and controls the communicationunit 148 to transmit the information on a site button to the makerapparatus 221.

Subsequently, at the next step S63, the CPU 141 collects apre-installation fee from one of the content management apparatus 62,which has made the request for the pre-installation. This is because theinformation processing apparatus is expected to make more accesses tothe site associated with the site button by cataloging the informationon a site button can be cataloged in the index panel 1 of theinformation processing apparatus as a default.

By referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 18, the following descriptionexplains a pre-installation process carried out by the maker apparatus221.

At the step S71, the control unit 231 acquires information on a sitebutton from the portal-site management apparatus 61. In the makerapparatus 221, the communication unit 233 receives the information on asite button and passes on the information to the preinstall-programcreation unit 234.

Then, at the next step S72, the preinstall-program creation unit 234creates a pre-installation program other than a variety of applicationsdescribed earlier. The pre-installation program includes the informationon a site button.

Subsequently, the preinstall-program creation unit 234 installs thepre-installation program created at the step S72 in an informationprocessing apparatus produced by carrying out a predetermined process.The information processing apparatus including the preinstalledinformation on a site button is sold through a predetermined salesnetwork such as shopping sites managed by the portal-site managementapparatus 61.

In this way, the site button is displayed on the index panel 1 from thebeginning so that the number of users making accesses to the siteassociated with the site button is expected to increase.

As described above, the portal-site management apparatus 61 providesinformation on a site button to the maker apparatus 221 by way of theInternet 51. It is to be noted, however, that the portal-site managementapparatus 61 can of course provide information on a site button to themaker apparatus 221 by adopting a variety of methods. For example, theportal-site management apparatus 61 may provide information on a sitebutton to the maker apparatus 221 by using any one of the recordingmediums ranging from the magnetic disc 153 to the semiconductor memory156 shown in FIG. 6.

By referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 19, the following descriptionexplains a process carried out by the maker apparatus 221 to storeinformation on a site button in the memory card 37.

The pieces of processing carried out at steps S81 and S82 are basicallythe same as those performed at the steps S71 and S72 respectively of theflowchart shown in FIG. 18. To be more specific, at the step S81,information on a site button is received from the portal-site managementapparatus 61 and passed on to the memory-card-program creation unit 235.Then, at the next step S82, the memory-card-program creation unit 235creates a program to be installed in the memory card. The programincludes the information on a site button.

Subsequently, at the next step S83, the memory-card-program creationunit 235 stores the program created at the step S82 in the memory card37.

The memory card 37 containing the stored information on a site button issold through a predetermined sales network such as shopping sitesmanaged by the portal-site management apparatus 61 to users ofinformation processing apparatus to gain revenue from the sales.

In addition, it is possible to charge a fee for storing information on asite button in a memory card 37 to one of the content managementapparatus 62-1 to 62-3, which has made a request to store theinformation in the memory card 37, in the same way as collecting apre-installation fee for installation of information on a site button.

By referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 20, the following descriptionexplains a process carried out by the information processing apparatusto install information on a site button stored in a memory card 37.

At the step S91, the CPU 111 employed in the display apparatus 31determines whether or not a memory card 37 containing stored informationon a site button has been mounted on the memory card slot 36. This isperformed repeatedly till a memory card 37 containing stored informationon a site button is mounted on the memory card slot 36. As the CPU 111determines at the step S91 that a memory card 37 containing storedinformation on a site button has been mounted on the memory card slot36, the flow of the process goes on to a step S92 at which the CPU 111controls the memory card drive 117 to read out the stored information ona site button from the memory card 37.

Then, at the next step S93, the CPU 111 stores the information on a sitebutton read out from the memory card 37 into the flash memory 115. Whenthe index panel display button of the operation unit 32 is operated, thesite button, the information of which has been stored, is displayed onthe index panel 1.

In this way, a site button can be added to the index panel 1 not only bydownloading information on a site button, but also by reading out theinformation from the memory card 37.

In addition, information on a site button can be acquired not onlythrough the Internet 51 or a memory card 37, but also by adopting avariety of methods. If the information processing apparatus is anapparatus designed for receiving digital television broadcasts, forexample, information on a site button can be acquired from a digitaltelevision broadcast and the site button is then cataloged in the indexpanel 1.

In the embodiments described above, every time information on a sitebutton is downloaded, a fee is charged to the user. However, anotherkind of fee can also be charged. For example, it is also possible tocharge a fee depending on the length of a period to display the sitebutton, the information of which has been downloaded, on the index panel1.

In addition, the embodiments described above implement informationprocessing apparatus including the base station 21 serving as a mainapparatus and the display apparatus 31 serving as a display unit thatcan be used in a state of being separated from the main apparatus.However, the present invention can also be applied to a conventionalapparatus such as the ordinary television receiver as long as the singleapparatus can be connected to the Internet 51 and is capable ofreceiving television broadcast waves.

The series of processes described above can be carried out by usinghardware or software.

If the series of processes is to be carried out by using software,programs composing the software are installed in the portal-sitemanagement apparatus 61 and the information processing apparatus fromtypically a network or a recording medium.

The recording medium from which the programs composing the software areto be installed is package media distributed to users separately fromthe main unit of the apparatus to present the programs to the users.Examples of the package media containing the programs are the magneticdisc 153 including a floppy disc, the optical disc 154 including aCD-ROM and a DVD, the magneto-optical disc 155 including an MD (MiniDisc, a trademark) and the semiconductor memory 156, which are shown inFIG. 6. In addition to the package media, the recording media includesthe ROM 142 in which the programs can also be stored in advance.

It is needless to say that, in the description chapter, stepsprescribing a program stored in a recording medium represent processesto be carried out in an order the steps are described along the timebase. It is to be noted, however, that the steps do not necessarilyrepresent such sequential processes. Instead, the steps may representprocesses including those to be carried out concurrently orindividually.

In addition, the technical term “system” used in the description chaptermeans an entire apparatus combination comprising a plurality ofapparatus.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, in accordance with the present invention, a firstoperation button to be operated in order to display a predeterminedtelevision program conveyed by a television broadcast wave as well as asecond operation button to be operated in order to make an access to aspecific content on a network are displayed and, in addition, the firstand second operation buttons are displayed on the same screen to furtherimprove operatability.

In addition, in accordance with the present invention, in order toincrease revenue, operation button information is provided to aninformation processing apparatus to be stored therein as informationrequired for displaying a second operation button to be operated inorder to display a specific content on the same screen as a firstoperation button to be operated in order, to display a predeterminedtelevision program conveyed by a television broadcast wave.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. An information processing apparatus for processingcontents available on a network and from at least one content source,said information processing apparatus comprising: acquiring means foracquiring operation button information for displaying operation buttonsselectively operable to access directly via said network a specific oneof said contents from a list of button information supplied to saidinformation processing apparatus; and display means for displaying saidoperation buttons acquired by said acquiring means and for displayingselectable operation buttons identifying the content available from saidat least one content source, said operation buttons being displayed on acommon display screen and being individually selectable by a user,wherein the acquiring means enables said user to acquire different setsof operation button information each time the user acquires operationbutton information, and wherein upon selecting an acquired operationbutton that is displayed, the information processing apparatus sends anaddress of the accessed operation button over said network toinformation providing apparatus that acquires from another informationproviding apparatus content associated with said address and transmitsthe acquired content to the information processing apparatus; andwherein upon selecting a content-identifying operation button, thecontent identified by the selected content-identifying operation buttonis transmitted to the information processing apparatus from said contentsource.